What do you do if your short-term database needs conflict with long-term strategic goals?

In general, it's best to de-couple your solution from any specific application as much as possible. If you need a short-term database solution now that you know you will outgrow in the future, explore if you can create an API that abstracts the access you need to the short-term database and will be used when you migrate to another database so that your code is not affected by the change.

One involves shooting yourself in the left foot; the other involves shooting yourself in the right foot. But I don't know which is which.

When short-term database needs conflict with long-term strategic goals: Prioritize long-term goals based on strategic importance and impact. Evaluate short-term needs to identify critical requirements and possible compromises. Communicate with stakeholders to align on priorities and discuss trade-offs. Seek innovative solutions or interim measures to address immediate needs without compromising long-term goals. Continuously monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed to maintain alignment with strategic objectives.

It is always best to prioritize the long term goal. When you duct tape together a solution to fix a short term need, you never know when you'll have time to revisit the issue. So the database could be not operating according to your vision for alot longer than expected. Also, there is usually a way to solve a short term need while sticking to the long term goal. You just have find the solution the puzzle.

You have to remember that there is a difference between implementing a feature that doesn’t advance a long term goal, and implementing a feature that actively contradicts a long term goal. The former might be ok, the latter has to be avoided.

Explore options prioritize based on the potential consequences of each approach Weigh the immediate impact of neglecting the short-term need against the long-term risks of deviating from your strategic goals

Future proofing standards, modular design , consider potential future scalability needs agile approach allows for iterative development and easier adaptation of short-term solutions to align with evolving long-term goals.

stake holder communication Communicate the identified needs, potential conflicts, and your chosen approach to all stakeholders. This ensures everyone understands the trade-offs and rationale behind the decisions. documentation Document the short-term solution, its impact on the long-term plan, and any planned future actions to address the technical debt or course-correct if necessary

Documentation and its updates helps for continuous review of short term and long term goal review Capacity, scalability results, performance monitoring results to review

When short-term database needs conflict with long-term strategic goals, it is wise to prioritize alignment by assessing the impact of each decision. Firstly, consider the urgency and significance of the short-term needs against the long-term vision. If the short-term requirements are critical, would seek solutions that minimize disruption to the long-term strategy, such as temporary workarounds or scalable solutions. Simultaneously, engage stakeholders to discuss potential trade-offs and find a balanced approach that addresses both immediate and future needs. Last but not least, emphasize communication and collaboration to ensure alignment while maintaining focus on long-term objectives.